Philippines Health Care and Vaccinations

* A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age arriving from an infected area.

Health insurance is essential, particularly since approximately three-quarters of the hospitals are private. Call 117 for emergency services, although if you’re in Manila then it may be quicker to contact an ambulance service directly. These include Makati Medical (02) 888 8999 and St. Luke's Hospital (02) 723 0101.

Food and drink:

Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised. Avoid dairy products that are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Other risks:

Avoid swimming and paddling in stagnant water and rivers; swimming pools that are well chlorinated and maintained are safe. Dengue fever occurs, spread by mosquitoes particularly around stagnant water in urban areas – unlike malaria there is no effective medication to prevent it, so it is best to take steps to avoid being bitten. Vaccinations against tuberculosis and hepatitis B are sometimes recommended.